Persuasive Essay PDF

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A persuasive essay written for ENGL 1010 arguing that there should be a food bank on campus....

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ENGL 1010

Essay Two There is an often unspoken problem among college campuses in America that also exists here on the University of Memphis campus: food insecurity among students. People often speak of college students gaining weight because they can eat whatever they want, but the reality is that most students do not get enough nutritional food or food in general because they are strapped for cash. Tuition alone is a growing burden for students: food insecurity often sets in after students have footed hefty tuition bills and paid for books, room and board, and other expenses. Some students are faced with choosing between food or paying rent and tuition, and are left with the stress of worrying about what they are going to eat. Food insecurity can affect a student’s grades as well as his or her mental and physical well being. "Spending time thinking about what you are going to eat can definitely get in the way of studying and doing homework." (Jones). In fact, studies show that food insecurity during college years can affect cognitive, academic, and psychosocial development (Patton-Lopez, Lopez-Cevallos, and Vasquez 3). Among the nine students I surveyed on campus, six of them said that they had experienced food insecurity sometime during the semester (Smith). The solution to this problem is a food pantry on campus. It would not only help students who do not have enough food but also those who can only afford to buy nutritionally unfulfilling foods like pizza and ramen noodles. A food pantry would help students combat their food insecurity and help them work towards their academic goals. Some students struggle with food

insecurity because they can't afford costly meal plans, and some run low on food at the end of the month and just need something through the day. Others may run low on meal plan points or want something besides the fried food offered in the cafe. Lastly, the dining dollars that students pay for only provide students with junk food from vending machines or fried foods from the cafe, and they can also run out during the semester. Another reason why a food pantry on campus would be a good idea is that most full time college students do not qualify for food stamps or other government assistance. For those who do get food stamps, funds are limited to about $150-200 per month and only last a certain amount of time. A food pantry would fill in the gap. If there were a food pantry on campus, these students would not have to worry about getting enough food and would have the added security of knowing that they could get help if they needed it. This food pantry would supply students in need with healthier, non-perishable food items such as bread, peanut butter, cereal, and canned vegetables and fruits. This food bank on campus would not only help students in need, but it would also remove the physical and academic stress that comes with food insecurity. A food pantry would also give students a source for needed volunteer hours. Out of the nine students I asked about food insecurity, all of them agreed that a food pantry would greatly benefit the students on the UofM campus. The food pantry can be started with the help of people knowledgeable about running a food bank or with help from CUFBA (the College and University Food Bank Alliance), which helps developing food bank programs by offering advice and insight on how to run a successful food pantry on campus. The university joins CUFBA, and it is completely free. The cost of opening this food pantry would be little to nothing for the university. The food pantry would be run on donations, which would be supplied by donors from the community or from students

themselves. There would be no need to employ and pay workers, because the food pantry could be operated by a student organization or by three to five student volunteers. The campus would only have to supply and maintain a space big enough to house the food items for students. This space could be an unused classroom or storage area. All food in the pantry would be non-perishable, so there would be no need for large, costly freezers or refrigerators. To ensure that only students are served, anyone wishing to receive help from the food pantry would have to present a student ID card. As for hours of operation, the pantry would only have to be opened for a few days a week in-between class times so that students could come by and get what they need. To make the operation less time consuming, the food given out can be in pre-packed boxes or students could state what they need beforehand and come pick it up when the pantry is opened. Food pantries on college campuses are already widespread and can be found at big name universities such as Michigan State University, Syracuse, Oregon State University, and the University of Missouri. They are all successfully operated by donations from their communities and other organizations. Michigan State’s food pantry is operated for only two days a week and serves around 2,000 needy students a year. Michigan State, which is one of the founding members of CUFBA, has also consulted other universities on starting food pantries. Oregon State University’s food pantry was created when students on campus complained of being hungry and started posting about when and where free food could be found on campus. These campuses’ food pantries have greatly benefitted needy students who would have otherwise been stuck with the stress of worrying about what they were going to eat. A food pantry on the UofM campus would do the same for its students.

For some students, the opening of a food pantry on campus could be the difference between eating one meal a day every week or eating three meals a day every week. It would help students overcome food insecurity caused by financial difficulties and give them the security of knowing that they could turn to the pantry for help if they needed it. A food pantry would also help students focus more on their studies and get better grades, being that food insecurity can upset a student’s academic abilities. My proposal for this food pantry is based on not only personal experience but also from the experience of fellow students who would benefit greatly from it....